South Dakota player steals ball, hits miraculous game-winning half court shot in less than 5 seconds

With a District 2AA tournament boys basketball game between Sioux Falls (S.D.) Lincoln High and Yankton (S.D.) High coming down to a last shot, Yankton had a chance to get off the last attempt following a second made free throw that notted the score, 50-50. Yankton inbounded the ball with just fewer than 20 seconds remaining, pushing the ball up across the midcourt time line and setting up the team’s motion offense.

The Lincoln player who walked right into the miraculous steal and midcourt buzzer beater you see above is Lincoln Nermin Krdzalic, who knocked the ball loose with fewer than 5 seconds remaining, scooped up the ball in a mad scramble and then launched a desperate shot at the hoop that sailed through for one of the most remarkable game-winning buzzer beaters of the season.

As one might expect, the Pats and their fans exploded in delirium, lifting Krdzalic up for a wild a celebratory totem pole moment while Yankton’s players stood by absolutely stunned. After the game, even the Yankton coach admitted he never imagined his team could have lost in regulation, given the circumstances when they last inbounded the ball.

“Ryan did exactly what we wanted him to do,” Yankton coach Chris Haynes told the Yankton Daily Press and Dakotan. “He waited long enough where, if they were going to beat us, it would be on a half-court shot.